Relating to old people, especially regarding their health care and medical treatment. Often used to describe the specialized branch of medicine dealing with elderly patients.
Coined in 1909 by Austrian-American physician Ignatz Nascher, combining Greek 'geras' (old age) and 'iatros' (physician). The term was created to establish elderly care as a legitimate medical specialty.
The word 'geriatric' is barely over 100 years old, created when someone realized that treating elderly patients required special knowledge and skills! It's younger than many of the patients it describes, showing how recently we've recognized aging as a distinct medical field.
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